November's CEAB meeting

Cranston Educational Advisory Board Meeting

November 6, 2006

7:00 PM Cranston East Room 301

Represented: Dutemple, Orchard Farms, Park View, NEL/Charter, Hope Highlands, Glen Hills, Stone Hill, Waterman, Central Administration, Eden Park, Cranston HS West, Cranston Teachers’ Alliance (CTA), Garden City, Arlington, Peters, Edgewood Highland, Rhodes, School Committee, Woodridge

Agenda:

The CEAB was called to order by Laura Gabiger at 7:03 PM.

June minutes were approved unanimously. Copies were made available to delegates of an article from the Providence Journal of September 26, 2006 about the CEAB-Sponsored School Committee Candidates’ Forum.

Ken McDaniel gave the Treasurer’s report (attached). The beginning balance in June was $412.70. There were $359.83 in expenses and $25 in income leaving a closing balance of $77.87.

It was decided that Beth Martinelli will be responsible for maintaining the CEAB contact list.

Chair’s Update: The Chair discussed how she had met with the Superintendent and would be meeting with him monthly. The Superintendent has confirmed that he will attend the December 4^th CEAB meeting. The Chair clarified the role of the CEAB and stressed that she will be working with the CEAB to focus on school and district-wide issues rather than personal grievances.

Old Business: The PTO University training was discussed. Participants were generally positive about the training which is being planned again for the Spring.

Introductions: Each delegate introduced themselves and discussed some of the issues that are important to the parents in their schools. Issues identified included;

• $ Interested in possibility of coordinating regional buying opportunities (Rhodes)
• $ Parents need guidance on how to help their kids with math investigations. (Stonehill, Dutemple)
• $ Concerns about safety of the grounds and the school building (indoor/outdoor maintenance and upkeep) (Stonehill, Glen Hills, Dutemple)
• $ Concerns about security of the schools. (Park View, Glen Hills, Peters, Woodridge, Eden Park, Chester Barrows)
• $ Interest in developing school-wide listserve for emailing bulletins (Park View, Chester Barrows)
• $ Interested in academic after school programs (Arlington)
• $ Concerned with improving NECAP scores (Arlington)
• $ Interested in getting broader representation/ input from parents (Peters, Woodridge)
• $ Ideas on raising money (Peters)
• $ Concerned about bus safety (Woodridge)
• $ Traffic concerns (Woodridge, Glen Hills, Dutemple)
• $ Is there a district-wide procedure in place for lockdowns? (NEL/CPS)
• $ Class size (CHS West)
• $ Digital portfolios (CHS West)
• $ Merging comprehensive & college prep courses (CHS West)

Given the significant interest in the issues of security, parental involvement, and communication, these issue areas were selected for further discussion. CEAB delegates were tasked with identifying some best practices for encouraging parental involvement to share at the January meeting.

It was announced that there would be an event of the Cranston Civics Education Speaker Program at Cranston West on November 14^th. This event focuses on the judicial system; additional information is available on the school department’s website, http://www.cpsed.net.

The CEAB was adjourned at 8:35 PM